The

petitioner

being

the

sole

accused

has

approached

this

Court

seeking

to

quash

criminal

proceedings initiated against him in C.C. No.514/2021 for

the offences punishable under Sections 504 and 505(1) of

the Indian Penal Code (for short ‘IPC’) pending on the file

of the learned JMFC at Devadurga arising out of Crime

No.66/2021 of Gabbur Police Station.

2.

Brief facts of the case are that the informant-

Zaheer Pasha lodged the first information against the

petitioner alleging that he is a BJP worker and close aide of

Devadurga M.L.A., Sri Shivanagouda Nayak. During Covid-

19 pandemic under the leadership of the MLA, workers

3

including the informant were helping the needy persons by

providing them with food and shelter. On 17.05.2021, a

message was forwarded in UAS Samartha Fruit Shop

whatsapp group pertaining to the service that is being

rendered with reference to the MLA. But the accused who

is the member of the same whatsapp group commented

and forwarded the message as “dodda kalla ksn”. It is

stated that even though MLA of Devadurga Vidhana Sabha

Kshetra is an important person involved in serving the

society and the general public, accused posted the above

said message defaming h